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No Reduction of Pension
Peter Leonard Satisfied the Pension Department - Farming and Mining

Peter Leonard was up Thursday from his ranch near Watsonville. He says he will have a good crop of beets this year. He has only twelve acres to beets, which will average six and seven tons to the acre. There will only be a half crop of oats and wheat, and a good crop of beans and potatoes.

Mr. Leonard served three years and nine months during the civil war. At Mine Creek, Missouri, in 1864, he was wounded in the knee cap, and has never recovered from it. He was in receipt of a pension but recently was informed by the Pension Department that it would be cut down one-half unless he could show good cause why it should not be. Mr. Leonard furnished the necessary affidavits, and last week the dispatches announced that his pension would not be reduced.

Mr. Leonard will soon begin extracting gold from the black sand at San Andreas. Experts estimate that there are about 4,000,000 tons of black sand at the place named.

Watsonville Pajaronian (April 16, 1921)

Peter Leonard of San Andreas, Dies in City Last Night Suddenly

Peter Leonard, a pioneer resident of San Andreas district, passed away at the home of his son George P. Leonard in San Francisco, about three o'clock this morning.

Mr. Leonard had gone to the city to attend the funeral of his sister in law Mrs. Will Tait, whose death we note elsewhere.

He retired last evening about 11:30 feeling in the best of spirits. Soon after midnight he awakened complaining of pains about the heart but appeared to get relief shortly after. However, he was again attacked and passed away in about an hour. Heart failure is supposed to be the cause of death.

Mr. Leonard was well and favorably known here and his demise is greatly deplored by a host of friends.

The deceased was born in Canada June 3, 1845 and was 75 years 10 months and 13 days old. He was a veteran of the Civil War and a member of the G.A.R. post in Watsonville. He had lived in San Andreas section since 1879.

Mr. Leonard is survived by his wife Mrs. Mary A. Leonard of San Andreas, and nine children: Mrs. Richard Buckhart of Watsonville; George P and J.W. Leonard of San Francisco, Sister Francisco of Holy Name Academy, Oakland, Mrs. Jas. Grace, Burlingame, Mrs. Hugo Elander, San Diego; Mrs. Joseph Sohm, San Leandro and Jos. P. and Chas L. Leonard of the home place at San Andreas; also two brothers John Leonard of Stockton and T.W. Leonard of Leonard's station.

The body will arrive at Watsonville tomorrow afternoon on the 4:45 train and will be taken to the Aston and Neal undertaking parlors.

The funeral will be held Tuesday morning at 8:45 o'clock from Aston & Neal's undertaking parlor, thence to St. Patrick's church, were a requiem mass will be celebrated at 9:00 o'clock. The interment will be at the Catholic cemetery.

Date of Birth: 1845-06-03

Date of Death: 1921-16-04

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Watsonville Catholic Cemetery

Plot: 2-Dec

Mortuary: A&N

Cause of Death: Hrt/Related

Spouse: (Leonard)_ Mary A

Occupation: Farmer

Religion: RC

Height: 5'11

Complexion: Lt

Eye Color: Bl

Hair Color: Rd

Last City: County

Native of: CN

Enlisted: 1861/

Discharged: 1864/

Military Unit: MO_ 4 Cav_ Co F

Military Notes: Not on HDS/SSS Database 04/04

GAR#: WR32

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: W&R 1896 Roster